The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-31
THE VIGaR'S uIECEs.

There never was more popular clergyman than the Rev. Josiah Touchet. His congregation simply idolized him because he never inter- fered in other peoples business, and he preached orthodox sermons on heavy subjects, rode good horses, and gave quite pleasant parties. In fact, it was to these parties that he owed much of the favor in which he stood with his neighbors, for there was al- ways an amusing person imported to prevent the country folk from being bored time after time with each other.
 Although MT. Touchet did not pro- fess precisely the views given utter ance to by the Rev. Stewart Headlam and parsons who, forgetting the prime duties of their calling, are always re- belling against authority, he was lib- eral in his aspect towards the stage, and many an actor and actress too calls him friend. Now and then, on com- pany evening, tragedian out of work would visit the vicarage, or come dian gave his world renowned imita- tions of his more successful brothers in art. Sometimes they would stay over Sunday, and endorse the vicar's good opinion of their profession, by sitting out the whole of the service, and discussing the. various points ol the sermon with a commendable as- sumption of biblical knowledge. There was a Mrs. Touchet, too, a sweet, amiable, silly woman, who tended the sick, visited the poor and gave them eggs and port wine, &C., cording to the recommendation or the parish doctor. It was rather surpris- ing that 30 sweet person as this clergyman's partner should have an enemy in the world. And perhaps it was not her fault if the doctors wife resented the popularity enjoyed by the vicar, and reflected worthily on herself. But women are strange creatures, and Mrs. Bolus was cer- tainly very jealous. The parish she lived in was not large, and MT. Touchet's ample means enabled him to do things which the excellent health of his congregation would not permit to Dr. Bolus Hence, Mrs. Touchet was forced into the presi- dency of the local Dorcas society; she was premier dame of the local branch of the Primrose league, and dispensed more charity in the neighborhood than her self-constituted rival had been able to do. Mrs. Bolus, how ever, was compelled to great extent to keep her feelings of annoyance to herself, for she found no sympathizers, and though she would gladly have re- volted had she felt the ground safe, she was wise enough to make no open effort to depose the vicar's wife, and retained the post of lieutenant await ing an opportunity to assert the right of pre-eminence for which she was con- fident her brain and business habits fitted her.
 Unhappily, both for vicar and the village, her chance came. Mrs. Touchet died, after a short illness, leaving all her friends in the deepest sorrow, and her husband distracted. His parishioners came forward nobly to comfort him as best they could a marble tombstone of extravagant de- scription was subscribed for by her lhuy IrleuQsy Heztuou Dy mEs- DOtus, '.her fellow-worker in the home park of Christianity" and an illuminated address of condolence Was signed by nearly every adult within the limits of the vicar's work. Still he seemed inconsolable; and 50 purse of money of which he was not at all in need was collected among his rich congre- gants, who begged that he would take a six months holiday at their expense.
 There was quite a heartrending parting at the railway station. A demonstration had been got up. The Good Templars, of which body he was not a member, attended with their banners and scarves; a dozen friendly hands were stretched out for last grasp, and the train had sped on many . mile towards the metropolis before the divine had recovered his equanamity.
 With whom he went or what he did we have nothing to do. Now and then his friends received short notes from Paris, Brussels and Milan, an- nouncing his slow, but steady, return to that peaceful state of mind without which an English clergyman is un- fitted for his solemn duties and by- and-by even more cheerfhl letter., from London, bade his admirers to